You would like to become a Dutch citizen through the option procedure. This is a quick and easy way to acquire Dutch citizenship. You can also use this procedure when you have the nationality of a EU/EEA country or Switzerland. You fill in the option statement in the municipality where you live. What are the conditions? And how does the procedure work?
The municipality assesses whether you qualify for the option procedure. You are eligible for option if one of the following situations applies to you:
You are an adult. And, from the moment you have turned 4 years old, you have been living in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. All this time you have had a valid residence permit.
You are an adult. You are a former Dutch citizen. And you have been living in the Kingdom of the Netherlands for at least 1 year. In this year your have had a permanent residence permit or a temporary residence permit with a non-temporary purpose of stay.
You are married to a Dutch citizen or you are the registered partner of a Dutch citizen for at least 3 years. This marriage or registered partnership is uninterrupted with the same Dutch citizen. And you have lived immediately prior to the confirmation of Dutch citizenship uninterruptedly in the Kingdom of the Netherlands for at least 15 years with a valid residence permit.
You are 65 years of age or older. And you have lived immediately prior to the confirmation of Dutch citizenship uninterruptedly in the Kingdom of the Netherlands for at least 15 years with a valid residence permit.
Are you by birth, acknowledgement, adoption or court ruling the child of a person that has become or could have become a Dutch citizen on the grounds of this option category? Perhaps you can also become a Dutch citizen by option. Please contact your municipality for more information.
Are you by birth, acknowledgement, adoption or court ruling the child of a person that has become or could have become a Dutch citizen on the grounds of this option category? Perhaps you can also become a Dutch citizen by option. Please contact your municipality for more information.
You must meet the following conditions:
You are not a danger to the public order or national security of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Please note: do you apply for Dutch nationality via the Option procedure on the grounds of having lived in the Netherlands from the age of 4? Then you have to renounce your current nationality.
Are you a citizen of the EU/EEA or Switzerland? All option categories also apply to you. Also all conditions apply. The only exemption is that you do not need to have a residence permit to apply for option.
Are you a citizen of a Member State that has joined the EU later? Then you must have had a residence permit in the years that your country was not yet a Member State of the EU.
What documents do you need?
Other documents may also be necessary. For more information about the documents, please contact your municipality.
You apply for a passport or birth certificate at the government of your country. What if you cannot do this? Or if you cannot get a passport or birth certificate? Then you may possibly appeal to lack of documentary evidence.
Read more about lack of documentary evidence: becoming a Dutch citizen without a passport or birth certificate.
Your minor child can only apply for Dutch citizenship together with you. You then include your child on the form. Your child must be living in Netherlands at the time of the application and have a valid residence permit. Children of 16 and 17 years of age must be present for the application. They must also indicate that they agree with the application.
You are an adult when you are 18 years or older. Or from the moment that you have married even if this was before you were 18 years old.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands consists of The Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. And 3 special municipalities: Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba.